Ordnance – Breech closures
Patent
1996-05-06
1997-09-02
Eldred, J. Woodrow
Ordnance
Breech closures
89 24, 89 26, F41A 300
Patent
active
056635192
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to the breech of a cannon or the like.
Two types of ammunition are generally available for cannons: a first type known as cased ammunition in which the case carries the propellant charge, and a second type known as caseless ammunition which does not have such a case and for which the propellant charge has to be loaded separately into the firing chamber of the cannon.
The breech of the conventional cannon is adapted to handle only one of the aforesaid types of ammunition and different cannons are accordingly employed for shooting cased and caseless ammunition.
The conventional cannon breech usually includes a sliding block which is slidably movable in a transverse direction relative to the longitudinal axis of the firing chamber of the cannon from one position (hereafter referred to as the operative position) where it serves to seal off the rear end of the firing chamber of the cannon when the cannon is in the firing position, to a second position (hereafter referred to as inoperative position) where it does not.
Where the cannon is of the type which fires cased ammunition, the said sliding block serves to support the rear end of an ammunition case loaded into the firing chamber of the cannon and to effect the aforesaid sealing off action in cooperation with such rear end.
Where the cannon is of the type which employs caseless ammunition, an additional sealing means has to be employed for sealing off the rear end of the firing chamber.
It will be appreciated that because the breech of the conventional cannon is adapted only to fire one of the aforesaid two types of ammunition, it restricts the usefulness of such a cannon. It is accordingly an object of this invention to provide an arrangement with which this problem can be overcome or at least minimised.
According to the invention a breech for a cannon is provided which includes two interchangable sliding blocks, a first one which can in conventional manner in the operative position support and cooperate with the rear end of the case of cased ammunition located in the firing chamber of the cannon to seal the rear end of such chamber off when the cannon is in the firing position, and a second one which is adapted in the operative position to trap a sealing member in engagement with the said rear end of the firing chamber.
It will be appreciated that a cannon with such a breech will be able to fire both cased and uncased ammunition simply by employing the appropriate sliding block in the breech of the cannon.
Further according to the invention the sealing member includes a substantially semi-ball shaped plug which can fit removably into the rear end of the bore of the firing chamber, the plug including over its outer circumference sealing means for releasably engaging the inside rim of the said bore.
Preferably the sealing means comprises a so called De Bange obturation system.
Further according to the invention the sealing member includes a centrally located axially extending hole which communicates with the inside of the firing chamber when the plug is located in its bore, the said hole providing a path or flash channel through which a propellant charge located in the firing chamber can be ignited.
Still further according to the invention the sealing member is connected to one end of an elongated lever of which the other end is pivotally connected to the cannon breech ring.
With this arrangement the sealing member can be swung pivotally from one or operative position where the plug is located in the bore of the firing chamber, to a second or inoperative position where it is located outside the breech of the cannon.
It will be appreciated that such an arrangement provides for an increase in the firing rate of such a cannon to a level comparable with that of a conventional cannon intended for firing caseless ammunition.
Preferably the said free end of the lever is mounted on a transversely extending shaft of which the ends are rotatably mounted on or in the breech ring of the cannon.
The invention also includes within its scope a method
REFERENCES:
patent: 3776095 (1973-12-01), Atchisson
patent: 4404888 (1983-09-01), Gentiluomo
patent: 4548121 (1985-10-01), Janssen et al.
Denel (Proprietary) Limited
Eldred J. Woodrow
Octrooibureau Kisch N.V.
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